Those self-righteous Christians!

[Lamb]

Do you think a lot of non-Christians view Christians as self-righteous? What about other Christians? What is your biblical definition of self-righteous?

 

[Tigger]

Yep, so if I get a chance I say I'm a Christian 'because' I need a savior. No self-righteousness here.

 

[tango]

Do you think a lot of non-Christians view Christians as self-righteous? What about other Christians? What is your biblical definition of self-righteous?

I think we've got a major image problem.

I'm not a big fan of Bill Johnson (if I'm honest I think the man is a wolf) but reading one of his books I found an interesting comment in it. He pointed out that sinners were drawn to Christ but generally aren't drawn to Christians, and we might do well to figure out why.

 

[Hebrews 11]

I believe if we look at being self righteous in literal terms,anyone who is self righteous cannot be a Christian.

The righteousness of Christ in us has called for us to love one another,as Christ loves the Church.

Here is a example:James ch 2

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

[9] But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

[10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

[11] For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Being self righteous would imply that a person keep his own salvation by his or her righteousness,not the Grace of God through Christ Jesus.

 

[psalms 91]

Many Christians are self righteous in the sense that they want to point to sin in others rather than look at their own and that is probably the biggest drawback anyone wishing to come in to the church has.

 

[tango]

Many Christians are self righteous in the sense that they want to point to sin in others rather than look at their own and that is probably the biggest drawback anyone wishing to come in to the church has.

That's a really good way of putting it.

Sadly it's very easy to look at the sins that Other People commit and tut disapprovingly, all the while justifying the sins we struggle with because "we're not that bad" and "we are forgiven after all". And then we wonder why the world doesn't want to be like us.

 

[ValleyGal]

Exactly, Bill. It seems a lot of Christians think we are *****appointed morality police, we think we are "better than" for no other reason than we have higher standards for morality - so we say and do not do.... Imo, self-righteousness is the opposite of the humility (deep recognition of our own lack of righteousness, aka sin) and necessity of a Saviour. It is when we have this humility that we can finally understand how futile it is to judge others according to our idea of God's morality.

 

[popsthebuilder]

You cannot be self rightuous. All sin making any human judge a hypocrite. This doesn't mean that we cannot help one another along the path by way of the Lord, towards God. To be truely rightious one must be without sin. To be without sin one must be born again, or baptised of sin through Jesus's sacrifice, or curcumsized of the bad that is in us all until we are saved. Judge not lest the be judged. Thanks.

Faith in selfless Unity through Good

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I run into a double-bind situation sometimes. On one hand, "I'm a (non-Christian, atheist, Wiccan, whatever) and I'm just as good a person as you are! That's the trouble with you Christians. You're always thinking you're better than everybody else!"

My reaction: "I don't at all think I'm better than anybody. I'm nothing without the Lord Jesus Christ. He's my Savior exactly because I'm not good enough for Heaven by myself."

Their response: "Now, see? That's the trouble with religion and how it damages people. You have no self-esteem! Don't let religion tell you you're not good enough! You're just as good as anybody else!"

Can't they even see the contradiction there? First I think I'm better than everybody else, and then I have no self-esteem, and both of those are Christianity's fault.